Sound reproducing system and coin collecting actuator therefor



W. S. FARRELL June 27, 1944.

SOUND REPRODUCING SYSTEM AND COIN COLLECTING ACTUATOR THEREFOR ,Filed Jan. 13. 194 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 M42 MM 6. AER/e544 INVENTOR:

SOUND REPRODUCING SYSTEM AND com COLLECTING ACTUATOR THEREFOR June 27, 1944. w, s, FARRELL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed an; 15, 1941 Mu/AM 5 .5422541.

INVENTOR:

BY ATTO EY June 1944- w. s. FARRELL 352,188

SOUND REPRODUCING SYSTEM AND COIN COLLECTING ACTUATOR THEREFOR Filed Jan. 13, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 27, 1944 SOUND REPRODUGIN G SYSTEM AND COIN COLLECTING ACTUATOR THEREFOR William S. Farrell, Los Anseles, Calif. Application January 13, 1941, Serial No. 374,192

Claims.

My invention relates to a coin actuated device and has particular reference to a new sound reproducing system and a coin collecting actuator therefor.

Numerous attempts have been made in the past in connection with various types of coin controlled mechanisms to provide for the insertion of two or more coins at one time in such manner that k the mechanism will be operated the same number of times as there were coins inserted in the device. The prior devices intended to provide this type of operation are characterized by great complexity in the number of parts and mechanisms employed, most of these devices including some form 01' counting element adapted to register each coin as it is inserted into the device and adapted .to cooperate with a periodically actuated re-setting mechanism adapted to reduce the registered quantity of coins by one each time the coin controlled mechanism was actuated to an extent represented by the value of one of the coins.

There has recently developed a need for a new type of coin collecting actuator which is capable of receiving atQIbne time two or more coins. This need has become particularly acute where it is-deslred to employ a considerable number of such coin collecting devices with a single mechanism controlled thereby. For example, in restaurants, cocktail lounges, andlike places, it is oftentimes desirable to provide a coin controlled phonograph or other sound reproducing device andto incorporate therewith a considerable number of coin collecting mechanisms disposed at different strategic locations throughout the establishment. The complexities above referred to are obviously multiplied by the number of coin collecting devices employed, with the result that the cost of manufacture, installation, and maintenance rises to a prohibitive value.

Another disadvantage is encountered when a. single sound reproducing device or phonograph is adapted to be controlled from any one of a number of coin collecting stations. This difficulty resides in the fact that the musical selection reproduced by such a device can be heard by all of the persons within the establishment so that all of such persons obtain jointly the benefit which is derived from the coin inserted in a coin collecting device by a single one of such persons.

The present invention is directed to a coin collecting device which is capable of receiving two or more coins at one time and which is so constructed as to avoid the above noted disadvantages as regards complexity of construction and cost of manufacture. This invention is also directed to the provision of a novel sound reproducing system for use with a plurality of such coin collecting devices, and of such type that the sound reproduction in response to the insertion of a coin in one or more of the coin collecting stations is limited to such of the stations as have collected coins.

In view of the large number of restaurants, cocktail parlors, bowling alleys, and like places which are now equipped with loud speaking, sound reproducing devices of conventional character, it is highly desirable that a sound reproducing system of the character outlined in the preceding paragraph be so arranged as to permit it to be connected to and employed with such conventional coin operated phonographs. Fur-' thermore, the system should be such as to permit the conventional phonograph to be adapted for use therewith with a minimum amount of revision and changes, and the system should furthermore be so constituted and arrangedas to permit the addition of additional coin collecting stations to the system or the removal from the system of unwanted coin collecting stations without requiring any revision or alteration of' adapted to be rendered operative upon the collection of a coin to reproduce sounds originating at a central reproducing station.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a sound reproducing system of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph in which means is provided for insuring that a particular sound producing means will be maintained operative a length of time at least as great as that represented by the value of a coin inserted to render such sound reproducing device operative.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a sound system of the character set forth hereinbefore in which a means is provided for suspending the actual collection of a coin deposited in a coin collecting station until the commencement of the period of sound reproduction for which the coin was inserted.

It is additionally an object of my invention to provide a sound system of the character set forth the device functioning to periodically collect one of such coins at the beginning of each of a plurality of time periods of sound reproduction.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a sound system of the character set forth in the preceding paragraphs in which the insertion of a coin in one station does not affect the operation or non-operation of other stations.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a sound system of the character set forth hereinbefore which is so arranged as to permit the adding to or removal from the system of one or more coin collecting stations-without requiring the alteration of that portion of the system as-- sociated with others of such stations.

It is additionally an object of my invention to provide sound producing and coin collecting ap paratus which is so constructed and arranged as to permit its ready connection to sound reproducing devices of known types to thereby provide a sound reproducing system of the character set forth in the preceding paragraphs.

It is also an object of my invention to provide coin collecting devices which are capable of cooperating with each other upon the insertion of one or more coins to actuate a coin controlled mechanism in such manner as to deliver to each person depositing coins full value for each of such coins.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a study of the following specification, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view illustrating a typical installation of the sound reproducing system of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view illustrating the details of construction of one form of coin collecting station which may be employed with the system of my invention, Fig. 2 illustrating the apearance of the device as viewed from the rear with the rear cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the instrumentalities which are mounted on the inside surface of the rear cover of the coin collecting station;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3 and illustrating one of the operative positions of the coin collecting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating another operative position of the coin collecting mechanism;

Fig. 6 is likewise a sectional view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 but illustrating still another operative position of the coin collecting mechanism;

Fig. '7 is an elevational view illustrating the general arrangement of parts and mechanisms employed in an impulse relay of my invention; and i Fig. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the various electrical connections employed in one form of sound reproducing system constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated in Fig. 1 a typical installation of the preferred form of sound reproducing system of my invention as including a plurality of coin collecting stations I, 2, 3 and 4. While Fig. 1 illustrates the employment of four of such coin collecting stations, it is to be understood that the system may include more or less of such stations, as desired. Each of the stations I, 2, 3 and 4 is illustrated as being mounted on a bar or counter .75:

5 and being spaced therealong from each other at any desired interval.

Each of the stations l-4 are interconnected by means of a multiple conductor electric cable 6 and also by such cable 6 to an adapter unit 1 which is preferably attached to or closely associated with a conventional form of coin actuated phonograph 8. The adapter unit 1 is preferably connected as by means of an electric cable 8 to the electrical mechanisms embodied in the phonograph 8 in a manner to be more fully explained hereinafter. The adapter unit 1 and the phonograph 8 may each receive power for their operation as by means of conventional electrical connections la and lb to a suitable source of electric current I I.

Each of the coin collecting stations I4 is preferably constructed along the lines illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and each preferably includes a back cover plate l2 to which is secured a pair of strip members I3 and I4 defining a coin chute II. The back cover I2 is adapted to be secured to the back of a front housing member IS in such position that the coin chute I! will register with a coin receiving aperture l1 formed in the housing IS. The housing I6 is preferably provided with a sizable aperture l8 behind which is positioned a loud speaker I! or other equivalent sound producing means. The lower portion of the housing member i6 is preferably lined with felt 20 or other similar padding material for the purpose of deadening the sound of coins which are dropped to the bottom of the housing It by their passage through the coin chute ii. If desired, certain portions of the housing ll may 'be formed of transparent ortranslucent material 2! for the P pose of ornamentation, these translucent portions being lighted from the interior as by means of electric lamps 22 mounted upon suitable.

brackets 23 which are in turn secured to the rear cover plate l2.

The rear cover plate l2 also serves to support a pair of coin switches 08-! and 08-2, the operating arms 24 of which are disposed in a position to be engaged by coins passing down the coin chute l5. Each of the switches 08-1 and CS-2 include electrical contacts 26 adapted to be closed to complete an electric circuit by the engagement of a coin with the operating arms 24.

The coin switches CS-| and CS-2 are adapted to cooperate in a manner to be hereinafter described with a coin relay CR which is alsomounted upon the rear supporting plate l2 and which is also adapted upon energization to close certain electrical contacts associated therewith and at the same time to actuate a coin feeding mechanism 21 or escapement for controlling the passage of a coin along the coin chute l5 (see Fig. 4). an armature 28 which in turn carries an extension member 29 mutually engaged with an upper escapement member-=30 and a lower escapement member 3|. The escapement member 30 includes an upper coin engagingprojection 32 and a lower coin engaging projection 33 each disposed in the coin chute IS.

The escapement member 30 is preferably pivoted as indicated at 34 in such manner that one or the other but not both of the projections 32 or 33 may occupy a position such as to engage a coin 35 which is received in the coin chute l5.

The lower escapement member 3| also includes a coin engaging projection 36 and the member 3| is pivoted as indicated at 31 in such manner as be mo ed from a position disposing the pro- The coin relay CR accordingly includes II as to permit a coin iectlon II in a position to engage a coin to a po sition sufllciently removed from the coin chute to pass thereunder.

The escapement members It and II are so coordinated that the coin enga i g projections 32 and 36 are simultaneously disposed in positions to engage coins in the coin chute II at a time when the coin engaging projection II is removed from. the coin chute. Furthermore, the projections 32 and 38 are each disposed in such location relative to the coin switches CS.| and CS2, respectively, as to cause the electrical contacts 26 associated with each of these switches to be closed at a time when a coin is engaged by each of these coin engaging projections.

The manner in which the above described instrumentalities function to control the coin actuated phonograph 8 may be understood by having reference to the wiring diagram comprising Fig. 8. In this figure each of the dashed lines I, I, 3 and 4 indicate the coin collecting. stations I-4 and the various instrumentalities illustrated diagrammatically in this producer 38 coacting with a vacuum tube amplifler I9 adapted in turn to coast with a sound reproducer or loud speaker 40. The phonograph I preferably also includes a record changing mechanism a type which may be set to cause the phonograph to reproduce in sequence a plurality oi sound recordings.

The solid rectangle 4| enclosed by the dashed lines I in Fig. 8 represents all of the mechanism embodied in such a coin actuated phonograph which does not need to be altered or changed in order to convert such phonograph for use with the system of my invention.

Such of the phonograph mechanism I as plays an active part in the control functions of the system of my invention has, however, been illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 8. This mechanism includes an electric motor 4! adapted to drive a tum table 0 upon which the various phonograph records are placed in sequence so as to permit the reproduction by the sound reproducer I8 of the material recorded on such phonograph records. The sound reproducer 38 is mechanically connected as by means of a suitable linkage 44 to a latch member 65 adapted to hold master relay contacts MR-l in a closed position after energization of a master relay coil MR until such time as the sound reproducer as has been moved toward the center of the phonograph record a distance suflicient to represent the reproduction of all of the material recorded on such phonograph record.

One terminal or the master relay MB is ordinarily connected as by means of a conductor it to a terminal 41 included in the equipment rep resented by the rectangle 4i (this connection is left undisturbed), while the other terminal of the master relay MR is connected as by means of a conductor 41a to a coin switch the coin switch 48 being in turn connected as by means of a conductor 49 to a terminal 50 included in the apparatus represented by the rectangle ll. The conductor 41a is disconnected from the coin figure and enclosedbythese dashed lines represent the instrumentallties switch dd and instead connected to a terminal ll provided in the adapter unit 7. Similarly, the conductor 48 is disconnected from the coin switch 48 and extended into connection with another terminal 52 provided in the adapter unit 1. The wires 53 and 54 which are connected respectively to the contact members forming the relay contacts MR-l are disconnected and extended into connection with electrical terminals 55 and 58 provided in the adapter unit I.

The electrical supply cable Iilb which ordinarily supplies power to the coin actuated phonograph 8 includes conductors 51 and 58 which are ordinarily respectively connected to terminals 41 and I9 included within the rectangle 4!. The conductor 58 is ordinarily also connected to a terminal as so that certain power equipment,

notably the turn table motor 42, may be connected to th terminals 59 and Ill and controlled independently of the master relay MR which is connected to terminals 41 and 50. The conductor 58 is disconnected from the terminal and instead extended into connection with a terminal 6i provided on the adapter unit 1 and another terminal 62 provided on the adapter unit is connected as by means of a conductor 63 to the aforementioned terminal 60. r

The above described alterations are all that is necessary to adapt the phonograph 8 to independent control from each of the coin collecting stations i-d. However, in order that the sound producing devices I9 incorporated in such statlons may operate to reproduce the material which is reproduced by the sound reproducer 38, it is necessary to also extend the sound circuit of the phonograph 8 into the adapter unit I. The loud speaker 40 of the phonograph is ordinarily connected as by means of conductors 64 and 65 to amplifier output terminals 58, and 61, respectively. The conductors 84 and. 65 are each disconnected from the loud speaker 40 and extended into connection with terminals 68 and 69 provided on the adapter unit 1.

Power for operating the system is obtained by means of the electrical supply ca'ble Illa which includes conductors id and I! connected respectively to a power transformer PT, secondary terminals '82 and 73 of which serve as a source of supply of low voltage-power for the operation of the system. It is recognized that electrical power at substantially any voltage may be used for operating the system of my invention, but in the interest of safety and economy, it is preferred to use a low'yoltage source.

The manner in which the various instrumentalitles are interconnected and cooperate with each other to achieve the desired results can perhaps best he described by assuming certain conditions of operation and describing the various electrical connections employed as the description of the operation of the system is carried forward. Assume, for example, that a patron deposits a coin in coin collecting station l as by inserting a suitable coin in the coin receiving aperture ll. The coin falls by gravity down the coin chute l5 until it engages the coin engaging projection 32 (see Fig. 4). When thecoin arrives in this position it engages the arm as and closes the contacts of the switch iCS-l, being the coin switch CS--l associated with the coin collecting station I.

One side of the coin switch ICS-l is supplied with power from the transformer PT as by means of a conductor 14 which is connected to the secondary terminal 12 and enclosed within the cable 6. The conductor 14 extends into connection with all of the coin collecting stations I-4 and may be connected to one terminal of the coin switch ICSI as by means of a conductor 15. The other terminal of the coin switch ICSI is connected as by means of conductors 16 and 11 to one terminal of a coil of the coin relay ICR, the other terminal of such relay coil being connected as by means of a conductor 18 to a conductor 19 which is included in the cable 6.

The conductor 19 is extended to one terminal of a normally closed contact IR-I of the impulse relay IR, the other terminal of the contact IR-I' being connected as by means of a conductor 80 to the other low voltage terminal 13 of the transformer PT.

It will be seen, therefore, that the closing of the coin switch ICS--I by the insertion of a coin into the coin collecting station I serves to complete an electric circuit including the coil of the relay I CR. The resulting energization of the relay ICR serves to close its various normally open contacts ICR,I, ICR--2, ICR3 and to also open its normally closed contact I CHI-4.

One terminal of the normally open contact ICE. is connected as by means of a conductor 8I to the aforementioned power supply conductor 14 andv the other terminal of the contact ICRI is connected as by means of a conductor 82 to the aforementionedconductor 11. This connects the contact ICE-i in parallel with the coin switch contacts ICS-I so that immediately upon energization of the coin relay ICR. a selfholding circuit is established through conductors BI and 82, permitting there-opening of the coin switch contacts ICS-I to occur without causing deenergization of the coil of the relay ICR.

The energization of the relay coil ICR serves to move its armatur 28 from. a position such as that illustrated in Fig. 4 to a position such as that illustrated in Fig. 5. This movement of the armature serves to change the positions of the escapement members 30 and 3| and so permit the coin to again move downwardly through the coin chute I5 until such downward movement is arrested by the center coin engaging projection 33.

The closing of the relay contacts I CR2 serve to place the phonograph 8 in operation. The circuits associated with the contacts ICR 2 include a conductor 83 which is: connected as by means of conductors 84 and 80 to the low voltage terminal 13 of the power transformer PT. The conductor 83 is one of the group of conductors included in the cable 6 and extends into connection with all of the coin collecting stations I-4. Thus, by means of conductors 14 and 83 the low voltage power supply derived from the power transformer PT is transmitted to each of the coin collecting stations I-4, permitting the connection of the lamps 22 between these conductors as by means of a series circuit 94a.

One terminal of the relay contact ICR2 is connected as by means of a conductor 85 to the conductor 83 and the other of such relay contacts is connected as by means of a conductor 96 to the conductor 81 which is also one of the conductors included in the cable 6. The conductor 81 is extended into the adapter unit 1 and there is connected as by means of a conductor 88 to one terminal of a small electric motor IR-M forming a part of the impulse relay IR. The other terminal of the motor IR-M is connected as by means of a conductor 89 to one terminal of a normally closed relay contact CR-I. the other terminal of such contact being connected as by means of a conductor to the aforementioned power supply conductor 14. Thus, the closing of the coin relay contacts ICE-2 serves to complete an electric circuit through the impulse relay motor IRM. This motor is connected by means of suitable reduction gearing and shaft ing, indicated generally by reference character 9|, to a switch control disk 92 in such manner as to, upon energization, rotate the disk 92 in a direction such as that indicated by arrow 93 in Fig. 7. The speed of the motor and the drive ratio of the mechanical connection 9I is preferably so arranged as to drive the disk 92 at a rotational speed lying within the range of from four to fifteen revolutions per minute.

The disk 92 is preferably provided with a pro- Jection 94 to which may be attached a return spring 95 acting to return the disk 92 to a position such as that illustrated in Fig. '1 upon deenergization of the motor IR-M. The motor IR-M is preferably mounted on a suitable supporting bracket 96 which in turn provides a support for a switch structure 91. The switch structure 91 includes a supporting bracket 98 upon which is pivotally secured a switch actuating arm 99. The arm 99 is preferably pivotally secured to the bracket 99 for pivotal movement about an axis disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of the disk 92-- and the arm 99 includes a downwardly extending portion I00 terminating in a roller IOI which is disposed in a position to be engaged by the projection 94 upon a partial rotation of the disk 92. ":5

The arm 99 also includes an upwardly and rearwardly extending portion I02 terminating in a roller I03 engaged with a central spring leaf I04 which is common to two relay contacts; viz., normally closed rela contact IRI and normally open contact IR-2, the other contact members of these relay contacts comprising contact springs I05 and I06, respectively. These springs are so adjusted that upon engagement of the projection 94 with the lower roller IOI, pivotal movement of the arm 99 from the position represented by solid lines in Fig. 7 to the positions represented by dotted lines in that figure serves to move the contact spring I 04 through a distance sufiicient to complete an electric circuit between the contact springs I04 and I00 and a short time later to open the electric circuit between the contact springs I04 and I05.

The impulse relay IR preferably includes also another pair of contact springs I 01 and I08 which are supported by the switch supporting structure These contact springs are normally disposed in positions such that there is no electric circuit established between them. The upper contact spring I01 is, however, extended to a position such that additional rotation of the disk 92 (beyond a position engaging the projection 94 with the contact engaging arm roller I 0|) will bring the projection 94 into engagement with the spring I01 suificientlytto-complete an electrical circuit between the spring I01 and the spring I'08.

It will thus be seen that the energization of the motor first causes the closing of the impulse relay contacts IR-2 which are connected between aforementioned conductors 80 and 81, thus serving to maintain the circuittothe impulse relay motor IR-M, even though the coin relay contacts ICR-2 should be subsequently opened.

A short time after the closing of the relay contacts IR-2, the relay contacts IRI are opened, thus breaking the circuit between conductors 19 projection 94 with the roller l! will serve to being supplied first and 80 and thus tie-energizing the coin relay ICR... De-energization of the coin relay allows the armature 28 thereof to return to its initial position to place the coin escapement members 30 and 3| in a position such as that illustrated in Fig. 6. This allows the coln to again resume its downward travel in the coin chute l5 until it engages the lowermost coin engaging projection 36. Engagement of the coin with the projection 36 is accompanied by the closing of the second coin switch |CS-2.

This coin switch is connected by means of conductors I09 andllll in parallel with the upper coin switch lCS-l so that the closing of the lower coin switch lCS-2 serves to prepare a circuit through the coin relay ICR identical to the actuating circuit therefor first described. This circuit is, however, interrupted by the now open normally closed impulse relay contacts IR-l. By having reference to Fig. 7, it will be observed that continued rotation of the disk 92' in the direction of the arrow 83 after engagement of the causethe projection to pass completely under the roller and remove the pressure which is applied by the switch actuating arm 99 to the center contact spring I04, thus allowing this spring to restore to its initial condition, closing-the impulse relay contacts IR-l and re-opening the relay contacts .lR-2.

Re-closing of the normally closed contacts IR-l serves to complete the circuit to the coin relay ICR. The resultant energization of that relay results in the shifting of the positions of the coin escapementmembers 30 and 3| from theposition which is illustrated in Fig. 6 to a position such as that illustrated in Fig. 5, thus releasing the coin in the coin chute l5 and allowing that coin to drop into the coin box at the bottom of the housing It. The resultant immediate re-opening of the coin switch lCS--2 does not, however, de-energize the coin relay ICR for the reason that a supply circuit therefor is established through conductors 8| and 82 and the coin relay contacts lCR-l.

Mention has been made hereinbefore of the fact that the impulse relay contacts lR-l and 1R-2 overlap, that is to say, that for a brief period during the movement or the center spring 104 between'its two positions that both of these contacts are closed. Attention is directed to the fact that this overlap serves to maintain the motor IR-M energized during the last described phase of the operation, power to the motor IFt-M through the contacts IR-Z and then upon closing of the contacts IRr-I through the circuit which is extended through the coin relay contacts ICE-2 which is completed immediately upon the closing of the impulse relay contacts IR-l.

It will thusbe seen that the disk 92 continues in its rotation and that such continued rotation wil1 serve to bring the projection 94 into engagement with the contact spring I01 after a brief interval and thereby close normally open impulse relay contacts IR-S. These contacts are connected to the aforementioned terminals 5| and 52 which, it will be recalled, are connected in the control circuit for the phonograph master relay MR. The resultant energization of the relay MR. by means of power supplied from the phonograph terminal 41 through conductor 6 to the coil or the relay MR and from thence through conductor 41 to terminal 5|, relay contact 13-3, terminal 52, and conductor 49 to the other power supply phonograph terminal 50 resultsin the closing of the master relay contacts lViR-i and their being immediately held in such closed po sition by the mechanical latch 45.

Closing of the relay contacts MR-l serves to complete a circuit between the adapter unit terminals 55 and 56 to which they are connected by means of conductors 53 and 54. The terminal 55 is connected as by means of a conductor ill to the low voltage terminal 13 of the transformer PT and the terminal 56 is connected by means of a conductor H2 to one terminal of the coil of the operating relay OR, the other terminal of such coil being connected as by means of a conductor H3 to the aforementioned power supply conductor 14. The resultant energization of the relay OR serves to open its normally open contacts 0R--l to thereby de-energize the motor IR-M of the impulse relay IR, with the subsequent result that the control disk 92 thereof is restored to its initial or rest position by the spring 95.

The energization of the relay OR also serves to close normally open contacts OFF-3 thereof which are connected by means of conductors i it and H5 to the aforementioned adapter unit terminals SI and 62. These terminals, it will be recalled, are connected in series between the sup ply conductor 58 and the supply terminal 50 of the phonograph so that energization of the relay OR serves, t p complete a powersupply circuit to certain orthe power equipment included in the phonograph 8, notably the turn table motor 52 and the record selection and transfer equipment. Closing of the relay contacts OR 3 thus serves to place the turn table motor 42 in operation and start the reproduction of a phonograph record. The relay OR is also provided with normally open contacts DEF-2 which are connected between the conductors I9 and 80 and which serve to maintain the coin relay ICR energized irrespective of the operation of the impulse relay 1B.

The circuits for supplying the sound signals to the sound producing devices l9 provided in each of the coin collecting stations l-t include a pair of conductors H6 and H] which are extended respectively from the adapter unit terminals 5% and 69 to primary terminals of a matching transformer MT. The primary winding of this transformer is preferably provided with a plurality of taps so that the conductors H5 and It! may be connected to the transformer MT in such manner that the primary winding included between these conductors accurately matches the output impedance of the amplifier provided in the phonograph 8. The secondary or this matching transformer is likewise provided with a plurality of taps permitting connection thereto of a pair of conductors H8 and H9 in such manner as to include between those conductors an amount of secondary winding such that the impedance thereof will accurately match the combined impedance of all of the loud speakers when such speakers are connected in parallel.

The conductor H8 is extended into connection with the aforementioned cable conductor 83 so that this conductor may serve as a common for both the control currents and the sound signals. Stability may be insured by grounding the conductor 83 as by a ground conductor I29. The conductor H9 is extended through the cable 8 and into connection with all of the coin collecting stations I-l. In each of thecoin collecting stations the conductor H9 is connected by means or a conductor III to a normally closed coin relay contact ICR4, the other terminal of which ing will be reproduced at the station in which the 18 connected as by means of a conductor I22 to coin was last inserted and then the equipment conductor I24 to one terminal of aprimary windwill be energized, the coin will be collected and nected as by means or a conductor I25 to the in uch"c0ndition, ass me that a n s placed rounded conductor 83.

It will be readily observed that when the coin Arrival of the coin at the position illustrated in relay I GR is de-energized, normally closed con- Fig. 4 closes coin switch ICS| and thereby ener- ICR-3 thereof serves to connect the primary the relay ICR pe es the Contacts R- and spective of the energized r dea nergized ondiof the patron at coin collecting station 2. The tion of the coin'relay ICR by adjusting th reenergization of coin relay ICR does not, however, 'sistance of the resistor IR to match the imserve to operate the impulse relay IR for the by means 01' conductors I26 and I21 to the loud 30 As soon, however, as the selection being played speaker l9. by the phonograph 8 is completed, the resultant It will be apparent from the foregoing that as opening of,the master relay contact MRr-l desoon as the phonograph 8 is placed in operation energizes the operating relay OR so as to close its recorded on a phonograph record will be impressed through the impulse relay motor IRM. As soon between conductors H9 and 83 and that as soon as thiscircuit is completed, the impulse relay as the coin relay I CR is energized, the speaker l9 operates to open and'close its contacts IR I and will be alternatively connected between these con- IR-2 and thereby de-energize both of the coin ductors' so that the material recorded on the relays ICR and ZCR. The coin relay ICR is, howphonograph record and reproduced by the phono- 40 ever, immediately re-energized by the movement tue of the mechanical link 44, disengage the latch 4 re-energizes the relay ICR was to efiect the col- OR and this in turn interrupts the circuits suptacts IR3. As previously described, closing of plying power to the turn table motor. the contacts IR 3 places the phonograph 8 in op- It will be noted that control relay I OR is mainoration to reproduce another phonographic retained energized from conductors 14 and 83 cording. through the following, circuit: 8t, ICR-l, 82, In a similar manner, the mechanism above ICR, 18, 79, IR-|, 80. Thus, immediately upon described functions to permit the insertion of the re-closing of the operating relay contacts two or more coins in the coin chute I 5 and as- OR the impulse relay motor IR-M is resures that one complete phonograph record will energized so as to momentarily open th i be reproduced for each of the coins so inserted. pulse relay contacts IR-l. Opening of th Assume, for example, that a coin 35 is inserted contacts in turn de-energizes the coin relay ICR and slides down the chute l 5 to a point engaging and the de-energization of that relay in turn the n engaging pro ection 32 in the manner opens the circuit supplying power to th impulse illustrated in Fig. 4. Suppose also that coins 35a phonograph record, the equipment is left in the energize the relay [CR and shii't the positions same condition as it was at the time the operaof t ap ment mechanism t at w i h is tion was initiated by the insertion of a coin into illustrated in AS 50011 as pu s the coin chute l5.

The system above described operates to insure on f the relay C h relay CRWill be dethat a person depositing a coin in one of the energized and the -escapement mechanism will posit a coin during the time a phonograph record 35b are caught and held in the uppermost posiis being reproduced at a diflferent coin collecting tion by the upper, coin engaging projection 3?. station, the remainder of the selection then play- This is accomplished by pro the spacing between the projections 32 and 33 and proper clearance between the under. sides of these projections and the bottom of the coin chute I5.

As soon as the impulse relay IR continues its operation sufficiently to re-energize the coin relay ICR, the escapement parts will again be shifted to the position which is illustrated in sultant de-energization of the operating relay OR will again re-energize the impulse relay motor IR-M. The resultant opening of contacts IR-2 will de-energize the relay ICR. and serve to move the coin 35a' from a position such as that occupied by coin 35 iri Fig. 5 to a posi-' tion such as that occupied wean 35 in Fig. 6. This closes the second coin switch 20S so as to immediately re-energize the relay ICE and effect to those skilled in the art that the same principles and details, of construction may be readily adapted for use with any type of coin actuated mechanism and that when so adapted. the devices will permit the insertion of two or more coins in each of the coin collecting stations and will also permit the use of two or more stations with a single coin actuated device and will at the same time insure that patrons I receive full measure for each coin they have inserted in the mechanism. Q 3

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to any of the details of construction shown or described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. In a coin operated control device, thecombination of means defining a coin'channel for simultaneously receiving a plurality of coins; a

- coin receiver disposed at a discharge end of said a collection of the coin and at the same time re-establish the circuit through the impulse relay motor IR-M and insure its continued operation to a point placing the phonograph 8 in operation. Thus, it will be seen that the mechanisms function to collect one coin for each phonograph record which is reproduced at the station into which the coins are inserted irrespective of the number of coins which are placed in the coin chute.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the assurance that a customer will receive full value for the coin which he deposits in the coin chute is achieved by means of the escapement mechanism and the coin switches associated therewith which serve to hold the coins and prevent collection thereof until the apparatus is in a condition to deliver full measure of commodity or service paid for.

In this connection, attention is directed particularly to the fact that the escapement mechanisms and the coin relays CR operate to hold a coin in a position such that the contacts of the coin switch are closed and that the release of the coin for further travel along the coin chute occurs only at such times as the various functionsintended to be initiated by the closing of the coin switch contacts are actually started. Thus, it is insured that each of the coin switches will be closed for a suflicient length of time to permit the function directly resulting from the closing of such switch to be completed, and prevents the closing and reopening of the coin switch from occurring with such great rapidity as to fail to properly operate the various instrumentalities controlled thereby.

It will also be noted by having reference to Figs. 4 and 6 that the operating arms 24 of the coin switches are preferably disposed in such positions relative to the upper-and lower coin engaging escapement projections 32 and 36 as channel; a coin feeding mechanism in said channel normally defining a zone and actuatable to advance the lowermost one of said coins into said zone while holding the remainder of said coins above said zone; means in said channel above said feeding mechanism operable upon engagement by said lowermost one of said coins to actuate said feeding mechanism; and means operable subsequently to again actuate said feedin mechanism to t ereby advance said lowermost coin into said receiver and advance the next one of said coins into said zone.

2. In a coin operated control device, the combination of: means defining a coin receiving channel communicating with acoin receiver; a

coin feeding'mechanism in said channel movable from a first position defining an'isolated zone in said channel to a second position dividin said channel into an upper and a l'ower portion each including a part of said zone; meansin said channel operable upon engagement by a coin to move said feeding mechanism from said first to said second position to permit said coin to advance into said zone, whereby subsequent movement of said feeding mechanism back to said first position will confine said coin in said zone; and means responsive to confinement of said coin in said zone for again moving said feeding mechanism to said second position, whereby said coin is permitted to advance into said coin receiver.

3. In combination with a. coin controlled device including means responsive to the closing of an electric circuit for initiating a predetermined operation and having means responsive to initia tion of said operation for creating an electrical impulse; means defining a coin receiving channel communicating with a coin receiver; a coin feeding mechanism in said channel actuatable to advance a coin in said channel a predetermined distance through said channel; means responsive to the insertion of a coin in said channel for actuating said feeding mechanism; means reto engage a coin held by these projections at a point disposed above the center of the coin. This prevents the restoring force which is applied to the arms 24 from impeding the movement of the coin upon release of the escapement mechanism and actually provides a' small starting force tending to prevent inadvertent sticking of the coin in the coin chute.

While I have, in the foregoing, described the coin collecting stations as being employed in a sound reproducing system, it will be apparent sponsive to actuation of said feeding mechanism for closing said electric circuit; and means responsive to the creation of said electrical impulse for again actuating said feeding mechanism to thereby advance said coin to said coin receiver.

4. In combination with a coin controlled device including means responsive to the closing of an electric circuit for initiating a predetermined operation and having means responsive to the initiation of said operation for creating an electrical impulse; means defining a coin receiving channel communicating with a coin re'ceivena coin feeding mechanism in said channel actuatable to advance a coin in said channel a predetermined distance through said channel; electric switch means in said c annel closable through engagement of a coin therewith; an electromagnetic means coupled to said switch means and responsive tociosing thereof for actuating said feeding mechanism; andmeans on said electromagnetic means for closing said electric circuit, said electromagnetic means being also responsive to the creation of said electrical impulse for again actuating said feeding mechanism to thereby advance said coin to said coin receiver.

5. In combination with a coin controlled device including means responsive to the closing of an electric circuit for initiating a predetermined operation and having means responsive to the initiation of said operation for creating (an electrical impulse; means defining a coin channel for simultaneously receiving a. plurality of c'oinsra coin receiver disposed at a discharge end of said channel; a coin feeding mechanism in said channel normally defining a zone and actuatable to advance the lowermost one of said coinsinto said zone while holding the remainder of said coins above said zone; electric switch mean in said channel above said feeding mechanism closable upon engagement by said lowermost one of said coins therewith; electromagnetic means coupled to said switch means and responsive to closing thereof for actuating said feeding mechanism; and means on said electromagnetic means for closing said electric circuit, said electromagnetic means being also responsive to the creation of said electrical impulse for again actuating said feeding mechanism to there by advance said lowermost coin into said coin receiver and advance the next one of said coins into said zone. I

WILLIAM S. FARRELL. 

